This past week, Pope Francis suggested that during Lent we pray the Litany of Humility, a prayer usually attributed to Cardinal Merry de Val (1865-1930). A number of versions are available, below you’ll find my take on one of them.
I find it difficult to make this prayer my own – and you may have the same experience. The litany asks for the grace of a radical humility which puts God and neighbor always before the self. In my experience, the petitions in the litany which I find most difficult and offputting are precisely the petitions I most need to pray!
Before dismissing this prayer as dated, pious self-negation, consider some contemporary psychological research and opinion on its importance in our social and societal relationships.
And finally… below the litany you’ll find a shorter, musical version of the litany by Thomas Muglia, a musician I just discovered but from whom I think we’ll be hearing more…
Jesus! meek and humble of heart, Hear me.
From the desire to be popular,
From the desire of being preferred to others,
Deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire to be the center of attention,
From the desire to boast and glorify myself,
being humiliated,
From the fear of being suspected,
it.
it.
it.
it.
it.
it.
it.
That I may accept small irritations with good humor,
it.
it.
it.
it.
than criticize,
encourage rather than to discourage,
than to destroy,
not their worst.
Amen.
Litany of Humility by Thomas Muglia
If a video doesn’t appear below, click here!
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